Intraoral camera

An intraoral camera is a pen-sized camera that goes inside the mouth. It shows enlarged, clear pictures of a tooth or gum area on a monitor. Dentists use it to look for defects that are hard to see and to keep records of what they find.

A research review describes it as a tool for patient education and for records of care. When you can see a cracked tooth or worn filling yourself, the dentist's explanation is often easier to follow.

The pictures are different from X-rays. A camera shows only the surface, while a digital X-ray shows what is under it. Pictures can also be used with an intraoral scanner or a dental exam.